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| Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament | |
|---|---|
| Name | Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament |
| Sport | College basketball |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| First | 1997 |
| Current champion | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Most championships | Kansas Jayhawks (12) |
| Website | Big 12 Conference |
Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament is the postseason college basketball championship tournament for the Big 12 Conference. Held annually since 1997, the event determines the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and showcases programs such as the Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, and Baylor Bears. The tournament has been staged in major arenas across the United States and has featured future National Basketball Association players, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, and award winners from the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year.
From its inception in 1997 following the formation of the Big 12 Conference through the merger of members from the Big Eight Conference and the Southwest Conference, the tournament has functioned as the conference postseason showcase. Early champions included programs that traced lineage to the Big Eight Conference powerhouses such as the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The tournament has mirrored conference realignment trends that involved institutions like Nebraska Cornhuskers, Colorado Buffaloes, Missouri Tigers, and Texas A&M Aggies, with membership changes impacting bracket sizes and formats. Historic runs by Texas Tech Red Raiders, Iowa State Cyclones, and Kansas State Wildcats have punctuated eras defined by coaches such as Bill Self, Rick Barnes, Lon Kruger, and Scott Drew.
The tournament traditionally uses a single-elimination bracket with seeding based on regular-season conference standings. Initially accommodating 12 teams, the format adjusted when membership fluctuated, employing byes for top seeds and play-in rounds similar to structures used by the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference tournaments. Tiebreakers for seeding reference head-to-head results among tied teams and records against common opponents, paralleling procedures in the Big Ten Conference and Pac-12 Conference. The winner receives the Big 12's automatic qualifier slot for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, while at-large considerations inform NCAA Tournament bids for other conference teams such as Oklahoma State and West Virginia Mountaineers.
The Kansas Jayhawks have dominated the tournament, compiling the most titles and multiple streaks under Bill Self and predecessors like Roy Williams. Other multiple-time champions include Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, and Baylor Bears. Individual accolades within the tournament include Most Outstanding Player honors awarded to stars who later earned national recognition such as Buddy Hield, Tyus Jones, and Marcus Smart. Records encompass single-game scoring performances, rebounding marks, and coaching win totals that place figures like Bill Self, Larry Brown, and Scott Drew among the conference's all-time leaders. Upsets by lower seeds such as Kansas State and Iowa State Cyclones have contributed to a diverse championship ledger.
Memorable contests have included overtime thrillers and buzzer-beaters featuring athletes subsequently drafted into the National Basketball Association. Classic matchups involve rivalries between programs like Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns and upset runs by Oklahoma Sooners against Baylor Bears. Tournament runs that preceded NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four appearances for teams such as Baylor Bears and Texas Longhorns are frequently recalled, as are coaching milestones for figures like Bill Self and Scott Drew. Individual game highlights include record-setting performances and postseason breakthrough games for players from programs like Texas Tech Red Raiders and West Virginia Mountaineers.
The event has rotated through major arenas, with recurring sites including the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and the Target Center in Minneapolis. Attendance figures have varied with venue capacity and team participation; sellouts occurred when marquee programs such as the Kansas Jayhawks or Texas Longhorns took deep runs. The tournament's geographic positioning often leverages metropolitan markets in the Midwest and Southwest to maximize fan travel and television ratings, echoing venue strategies of other major conference tournaments like the Big Ten Tournament and the ACC men's basketball tournament.
Corporate sponsorship has been central to the tournament's branding, with energy company Phillips 66 as title sponsor for multiple years, joining partners in broadcasting and marketing. Media rights have been held by major networks including ESPN, CBS Sports, and affiliates that carry conference games to national audiences. Coverage integrates studio shows and commentary featuring analysts who transitioned from playing careers in the NBA or coaching roles in the NCAA. Digital streaming platforms complement linear broadcasts, and media exposure has amplified the league profiles of programs such as Kansas and Baylor.
The tournament influences seeding and selection dynamics for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and affects revenue distributions among Big 12 Conference members. Controversies have included scheduling disputes, officiating debates in high-profile games, and discussions around conference realignment that affected tournament composition when schools like Missouri and Colorado departed. Debates over media contracts and NCAA policies, including those related to athlete compensation and Name, Image and Likeness arrangements, have intersected with tournament operations and sponsorship relationships.
Category:Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament